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The Duelund-Altec Project: DCA16GA vs DCA20GA for the Altec 804A 16-Ohm compression drivers?

04-19-2019 | By Jeff Day |

I've been immensely enjoying listening to the "Stokowski" Altec's with the breadboard Duelund CAST tinned-copper crossovers.

I haven't really been in any hurry to make changes to anything with the crossovers, which is a good sign that everything is coming together in a synergistic fashion musically and sonically.

"Stokowski" Altec's with breadboard Duelund CAST tinned-copper crossovers.

I've wired the breadboard versions of the Duelund CAST tinned-copper crossovers with the vintage inspired Duelund DCA16GA tinned-copper tone wire wherever point-to-point wiring was needed.

I also used the Duelund DCA16GA tinned-copper tone wire to connect the Duelund CAST tinned-copper crossovers to the low-frequency Altec 803B 16-Ohm bass drivers and to the Altec 804A 16-Ohm compression drivers mounted on the Altec 511B horns.

The well run-in DCA16GA gives a vivid, tonally sophisticated, timbrally rich, and an incredibly musically seductive presentation to the "Stokowski" Altec's, and it's hard to fault the result. I've been listening to them hour upon hour and aurally drooling at the result.

Just as I can't resist trying a new single origin coffee - like the Rwanda Rulindo Tumba Lot 422 I just brought home from the roasters (it's great!) - I can't resist the aural taste-treat temptation of trying some different wiring combinations as I'm finalizing the voicing of the breadboarded Duelund CAST tinned-copper crossovers. 

There's no one wire choice that's the absolute best for every application, so I like to try different combinations to find out what will give me the best overall balance of musically & sonics with my associated equipment, and for my tastes.

What's the best Duelund DCA tinned-copper wire to use? The one you like the best. It's really that simple. Just mix and match the various gauges of Duelund DCA for any given application until you get the combination that you like best, and you'll learn a lot about voicing while you're doing it.

Duelund DCA20GA tinned-copper cable.

I've been wanting to try the Duelund DCA20GA tinned-copper wire for connecting the Duelund CAST tinned-copper crossovers to the Altec 804A 16-Ohm compression drivers mounted on the Altec 511B horns for a while now, so today I grabbed my bag of DCA20GA and trimmed off four lengths of wire to replace the DCA16GA wires that have been doing duty.

DCA20GA tinned-copper tone wire on the Altec 804A 16-Ohm compression drivers.

I removed the trusty DCA16GA from the Altec 804A 16-Ohm compression drivers, replaced it with my newly cut runs of DCA20GA, and fired up the system for a little listening.

True to tinned-copper wire fashion, the DCA20GA initially sounded a little forward and "rough" until it got some run-in time on it.

It doesn't take much run-in time for the DCA20GA to settle down and start sounding very musical, but optimally I like to let the the DCA20GA tinned-copper tone wire run-in for at least three days before making any judgements, and the longer you leave it in place the better it gets.

So given this is the first day of listening with the DCA20GA, consider these as preliminary impressions, and I'll report back after I feel like it is getting more fully run-in.

As I mentioned earlier, the well run-in DCA16GA gives a vivid, tonally sophisticated, timbrally rich, slightly dark and sweet overall presentation on the "Stokowski" Altec's 804A 16-Ohm compression drivers.

DCA20GA on the Altec's

My first impressions with the DCA20GA tinned-copper tone wire on the Altec 804A 16-Ohm compression drivers are that the DCA20GA is more transparent than the DCA16GA in this application, it highlights the high-frequencies more, provides more nuance and detail, and provides more of that "living presence" in the mid-range on up that tinned-copper wire does so easily. 

If the DCA16GA is a luscious tawny port in this high-frequency 804A 16-Ohm compression driver application, the DCA20GA is a fine Pinot Noir. 

I'm quickly becoming infatuated with what I'm hearing from the DCA20GA on the Altec 804A 16-Ohm compression drivers.  

I've been listening to the fantastic Jazz24 streaming out of Seattle and it sounds spectacular with the DCA20GA on the Altec 804A 16-Ohm compression drivers.  

It's about time to fire up the BBQ for preparing the evening's dinner, so I'll continue to stream Jazz24 for now, then after dinner I'll switch over to a little vinyl listening to get some more impressions.

Check back later for more, as I'll report back before too long!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!

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